System and method for generating aggregated data views in a computer network

• US 7,620,679 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Samji, Mohammed, Reasor, Sterling, Flo, Eric, Brezak, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joo; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US10/691,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,217 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709217-219, 709/200, 707/1, 707 3- 5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system and method for generating aggregated content views in a computing network are provided. A host computing device obtains a request for an aggregated view of content corresponding to a set of criteria. The host computing device queries itself and each computing device in a defined network for locally stored content matching the set of criteria. The query results are merged and displayed to a user at the host computing device as an aggregated list view.

Claims

1. In a computer network having three or more computing devices in communication, a method for managing data available for access on the network, the method comprising:

obtaining, at a host computing device included as pan of the computer network and associated with a user, a first user request to identify data corresponding to a set of criteria, the set of criteria including a unique security ID associated with the user;

verifying authorization of the user to access the data corresponding to the set of criteria based on the unique security ID;

obtaining an identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the first user request and matching the set of criteria;

automatically obtaining an identification of data stored on at least one computing device included in the computer network and matching the set of criteria;

merging the identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the user request and the identification of data stored on the at least one computing device included in the computer network;

generating a first user result from the merging of the identification of data stored on the host computing device associated with the first user request and the identification of data stored on the at least one computing device included in the computer network;

maintaining a record of the first user result;

obtaining, at the host computing device, a second user request to identify data corresponding to the set of criteria;

obtaining a second user result identifying data associated with the second user request and matching the set of criteria, stored on the host computing device;

querying any other computing device in the computer network available to identify data associated with the second user request in response to the second user request;

determining that one computing device in the computer network that was previously searched as a result of the first user request is unavailable to identify data corresponding to the second user request;

generating a recalled result portion by recalling a portion of the first user result containing data located on the one computing device that is unavailable during the second user request;

generating a substituted result by substituting the recalled result portion for results from the second user request of the one unavailable computing device; and

generating a merged result by mer in results including a result from the any other computing device available to identify data in response to the second user request, the second user result, and the substituted result.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating a merged result by merging results including a result from the any other computing device available to identify data in response to the second user request, the second user result, and the substituted result includes generating visual cues corresponding to data not currently available to the user.

3. In a computer network having three or more computing devices in communication, a method for managing data available for access on the network, the method comprising:

obtaining a first user request to identify data stored on the three or more computing devices, wherein one of the three or more computing devices is a local computing device, the data corresponding to a set of criteria, the set of criteria including a unique user security ID;

automatically querying the three or more computing devices within the computer network to identify data stored on local computing device storage locations associated with the unique user security ID on the three or more computing devices;

verifying authorization of the user, based on the unique user security ID, to access the data corresponding to the set of criteria;

merging results of the querying;

generating a first user result from merging results of the querying;

displaying the first user result;

maintaining a record of the first user result;

obtaining a second user request to identify data stored on the three or more computing devices;

transmitting the second user request to one or more available computing devices on the computer network;

obtaining a second user result identifying data stored on the one or more available computing devices in the computer network associated with the unique user security ID and matching the unique user ID in response to the second user request sent to the one or more available computing devices;

determining that one of the three or more computing devices previously searched as a result of the first user request is unavailable to identify data corresponding to the second user request;

generating a recalled result portion by recalling a portion of the first user result containing data located on the one computing device that is unavailable during the second user request;

generating a substituted result by substituting the recalled result portion for results from the second user request of the one unavailable computing device; and

generating a merged result by merging the second user result and the substituted result.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein generating the merged result includes generating visual cues corresponding to data not currently available to the user.

5. In a computer network having a computing device directly associated with a user and at least two remote computing devices in communication, a method for managing data available for access on the network, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the computing device directly associated with the user, a first request to identify data corresponding to a set of criteria, the set of criteria including a unique security ID associated with the user;

verifying authorization, based on the unique security ID of the user, to access the data corresponding to the set of criteria;

obtaining, by the computing device directly associated with the user, an identification of locally stored data matching the set of criteria;

transmitting, by the computing device directly associated with the user, the first request to the at least two remote computing devices for an identification of data matching the set of criteria;

obtaining, by the at least two remote computing devices, identification of locally stored data matching the set of criteria;

transmitting, by the at least two remote computing devices, the identification of locally stored data matching the set of criteria;

generating a first user result by merging, by the computing device directly associated with the user, data matching the set of criteria stored on the device directly associated with the user and the at least two remote computing devices;

maintaining a record of the first user result;

obtaining, by the computing device directly associated with the user, a second user request to identify data corresponding to the set of criteria;

transmitting, by the computing device directly associated with the user, the second user request toany available remote computing devices on the computer network to identify data corresponding to the set of criteria;

obtaining, by the computing device directly associated with the user, a second user result comprising an identification of data stored locally matching the set of criteria and data stored on the any available remote computing device that is still available to identify data in response to a request;

determining, by the computing device directly associated with the user, that one remote computing device that was previously searched as a result of the first user request is unavailable to identify data corresponding to the second user request;

generating a recalled result portion by recalling, by the computing device directly associated with the user, the portion of the first user result containing data located on the one remote computing device that is unavailable during the second user request;

generating a merged result by merging, by the computing device directly associated with the user, the second user result and the substituted result.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein generating a merged result by merging the second user result and the substituted result includes generating visual cues corresponding to data not currently available to the user.